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"What are you talking about? Do you hear that? He's boasting about getting a magic book and wants to act with us." There was a mocking tone on their faces, and to them, Falin was merely a braggart.
There were thirty people, plus a mage in the forest, while they were three children who had recently acquired a magic book.
Falin said, "Come out. The show is over."
Suddenly, a fireball appeared from the forest, heading straight for Falin and striking him.
The mage laughed, "Heh, this is what happens when you're arrogant."
A mage emerged from the forest, holding the magic book. Everyone laughed at Falin, who had been boasting just moments before, but now he was burning.
Yuno shouted, "You scoundrels, I won't forgive you!"
Yuno pulled out the magic book to attack, but nothing happened.
Yuno said, "Asta, what are you doing? We need to save Falin!"
Asta replied, "Yuno, you don't really know Falin."
Before Yuno could understand, he heard a voice.
Falin said, "Heh, is this what you call fire magic? I could probably boil water with it."
Falin emerged from the flames in a dramatic scene reminiscent of Ace from "One Piece." Flames surged around him, lighting up the forest with a brilliant orange glow. In this majestic scene, Falin stood as a glowing mass of fire.
The flames raged around him, but Falin appeared unharmed, advancing steadily towards his foes. With each step, flames rose around him, creating a mesmerizing and terrifying spectacle.
As he approached his enemies, the fire gradually receded, revealing Falin, who appeared unaffected by the earlier attack. He laughed maliciously as if the flames were nothing more than decoration.
The scene was shocking, like a demon emerging from hell. Falin said coldly, "Now, let me show you real fire magic."
The pages of the magic book flipped until stopping at a certain page. Falin announced, "Great Fireball."
He raised his hand, and a massive fireball appeared, resembling a small sun in its intense heat. The great fireball incinerated everything in its path, leaving no survivors among the caravan members, who were untrained and unable to escape. Their screams filled the air as the scent of roasting flesh spread.
The fire did not stop until everything it touched turned to ashes. The entire group, especially the caravan leader and the mage, were filled with fear, knowing the true power of this attack.
Falin looked at the remaining seventeen people, including the caravan leader and the mage. Seeing Falin's power, they threw down their weapons and fled.
Falin said, "This is the fate of the weak; they run, but even if you flee, do you think I'll let you go?"
The magic book's pages started flipping again.
**Fire Magic: Phoenix Arrow**
A fiery orange-red bow appeared. Falin grasped the bow and drew the string, forming a flame arrow with the head shaped like a phoenix.
Falin said, "Run, run, run; the arrow will find you!"
He fired the arrow into the sky, and everyone heard the sound of the phoenix. The shock came when the arrow exploded in the sky, turning into fifteen arrows that rained down on the fleeing caravan members, with some even pursuing them.
Another round of screams and cries filled the air, along with the scent of roasting flesh.
Falin looked at the caravan leader, who had fallen to the ground in fear, but he paid him no attention and turned his gaze to the mage.
Falin said, "Since you're a mage, I'll give you a chance. Attack three times, and if you manage to hit me, you'll be free. If not, heh."
Falin said this with a cold laugh. The mage was pleased with Falin's apparent stupidity but didn't show it.
The mage said, "You will regret your choice."
Asta said, "Falin, just finish him off."
Yuno was also puzzled by Falin's actions and his immense power. He knew Falin was strong, but not to this extent.
Suddenly, Yuno felt anxious about Falin's overwhelming power, while Asta, who thought he had surpassed him, stood and advanced each time.
Before Falin could speak, the mage attacked with three arrows, piercing Falin's body. Everyone was shocked, but before they could react, flames appeared at the wounds and healed Falin.
Falin said, "Still two more."
The mage was stunned but thought it must be a spell and that Falin couldn't repeat it. He attacked again, with the same result.
The mage attacked once more, and the result was the same. Falin didn't burn or even have his clothes torn.
Falin said, "Your chances are over. Now it's my turn. Try to protect yourself."
Falin jumped high, using his flame control power to launch himself like a rocket, and raised his hand.
"Flame Fist"
Falin's fist turned into a giant fire fist, destroying everything. The mage tried to defend, but against true fire power, everything turned to ashes, and the mage's screams filled the area.
Falin said, "Well, if you enjoy playing with fire, don't scream when you burn."
Flames were everywhere, turning the forest into a blazing inferno, especially after the final terrifying attack.
Falin stood there, looking at the caravan leader, who was kneeling and begging.
"Please don't kill me. I'll give you everything I've collected, please!"
Falin responded, "Alright, even when I kill you, I'll take everything."
"Please, I have a secret stash. Please spare my life, and I'll become a good person."
Falin said, "Tell me, and I'll consider it."
The caravan leader revealed the location of his stolen treasure. After finishing, he looked at Falin with expectation.
Falin smiled slightly and grabbed the caravan leader by the head.
Falin said, "In your life, you may become a good person, but in this life, you're unfortunate because the ruler sent me to exterminate pests like you."
Flames erupted from Falin's hands, incinerating the caravan leader.
Asta and Yuno approached, both shocked, especially Asta, who was astonished for the first time.
Asta said, "Why did you fight him? He begged for mercy and said he would become a good person."
Falin looked at him and spoke.
Falin said, "Did you really believe him?"
Asta couldn't respond.
Falin said, "Asta, remember this: in this world, power alone is justice. Laws, justice, and morality don't matter; everything is right in the face of power. Have you thought about the souls you've killed and their buried dreams? Asta, I understand the meaning of dreams more than anyone. Remember: 'Showing mercy to your enemy reflects your weakness.'"
Asta was lost in thought while Yuno viewed Falin from a new perspective.
As they were deep in thought, Falin felt his magic book asking for something.
Falin looked around; everything was destroyed and bodies scattered. He gathered his magic books and began checking the spoils.
After a quarter of an hour, Falin collected five magic books and the mage's book, totaling six books: two on water magic, one on wind magic, and three on fire magic.
When Falin approached the three fire magic books, his reaction intensified.
Falin said, "Do you want them?"
Falin felt the books talking to him, requesting the three fire magic books. He suddenly remembered the first time his magic book absorbed the Mera Mera no Mi Devil Fruit.
Falin looked around; he had caused a lot of destruction, which would surely attract monsters.
Falin said, "Let's move to another place."
Falin, Asta, and Yuno gathered everything useful and burned the caravan cart after the horses had fled.
On the way, no one spoke.
When they found a suitable spot, they set up their camp, each taking turns on watch while the others slept.
Falin's turn was first.
After ensuring Asta and Yuno were asleep, Falin took out the books and the three fire magic books.
Falin's book was in the center. Suddenly, the three books began spinning rapidly around Falin's book.
As Falin's magic book absorbed the three books, he watched with interest.
Falin said, "Strange, at first, I thought it was just a gift that I traveled through time, but this time it's odd. I feel that my magic book has an extraordinary effect."
The absorption process completed, and a new book appeared. This time, however, it was slightly different from the other books. The new book, after the absorption, was a bit different. Its cover was dark black, but the flames glowing from inside it shone with a faint light, giving the book a magical and mysterious appearance. The book was adorned with slowly moving fire patterns, as if reflecting the power of the absorbed elements. Its size and general shape were similar to the other books, but it carried a special aura of power and magic.
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